Ben Stokes 'Lucky to Be Alive'

The 34-year-old shared a picture of his severely bruised and swollen face, admitting that the situation could have been much worse had the ball hit him inches higher.

The injury has significantly delayed his return to professional cricket, forcing a complete reassessment of his fitness and recovery plan.

Stokes praised the medical team that performed the surgery and stated that he is now focused on a gradual return to the sport.

His candid admission has drawn widespread support from the cricketing community and highlighted the inherent risks even in training environments.